Carl Edwards Jr. goes on injured list after slipping on flight of stairs

Edwards scraped his right hand while trying to brace himself after slipping on a flight of stairs Tuesday. The damage was severe enough to force Edwards to Triple-A Iowa’s seven-day injured list.

This was the latest setback for Edwards, whom the Cubs were counting on to provide late-inning stability.

Edwards was told shortly after the start of the season that the pause in his revamped delivery was illegal, and he never found his rhythm afterward. He was charged with six runs on five walks and three hits in 1 2/3 innings over three appearances and was demoted to Iowa.

On Tuesday, Major League Baseball confirmed it was investigating racist messages sent to Edwards in the wake of his struggles.

Edwards posted a 2.25 ERA in three appearances with Iowa, striking out three and walking one in four innings.

Meanwhile, left-hander Mike Montgomery struck out four while pitching two scoreless innings in his first minor-league rehab appearance Wednesday for Class-A South Bend.

Montgomery, making his first appearance since being placed on the IL on April 5 because of a left lat strain, allowed a single to James Outman of Great Lakes with two out in the second. Montgomery threw 19 of 27 pitches for strikes.

Reliever Xavier Cedeno will make his first rehab appearance Thursday night for Double-A Tennessee. Cedeno hasn’t pitched since injuring his left wrist in February.

Bullpen battles back: After posting a 9.51 ERA in its first eight games, the Cubs bullpen has rebounded with a 1.00 ERA in its last eight games entering play Wednesday.

The only runs allowed during the last eight games occurred on Saturday when the bullpen issued seven walks.

“We have to attack the strike zone to be successful,” manager Joe Maddon said. “We continue to encourage these guys to challenge the hitters. The walks are what put us behind the proverbial 8-ball.”

With closer Brandon Morrow on the IL, Maddon has placed greater trust in Brandon Kintzler in late-inning situations like Tuesday when he induced a double play grounder in the eighth.

“He changed his delivery to the point where it will benefit him for several years,” said Maddon, adding that Kintzler has worked well with new pitching coach Tommy Hottovy.

Workhorse Willson: Maddon reiterated the days off on Thursday and Monday will allow Willson Contreras to start more frequently at the expense of recently promoted backup Taylor Davis.

Maddon said Davis would have started in Monday’s series opener against the Marlins had Sunday’s game not been postponed due to inclement weather.

“The days off will keep Willson in the game,” Maddon said. “I’m not afraid of Taylor. It’s just a matter right now that Willson is playing pretty good. I don’t want to get him out.”

Maddon said he hasn’t spoken recently with President Theo Epstein or General Manager Jed Hoyer about the catching depth with Victor Caratini sidelined for up to six weeks after fracturing his left hamate bone.

“I’m OK with what we got,” Maddon said. “As long as Willson stays healthy, Taylor as the backup is fine.”